Things to Do in New York City for 9/11
This September will mark 22 years since the tragic World Trade Center event on September 11, 2001. It’s hard to forget where you were or what you were doing when the news first broke, no matter where you were in the country. But unless you were in New York City or know first hand stories from those who were there- it’s hard to get a grasp of all the experiences from that day.
RVing is a great way to get to know an area and while fun and excitement is always the goal, it’s never a bad idea to pay tribute, learn about, and experience the memorials and museums of brave people and important times in history. If you’re planning an trip to the area and want to pay your respects to the World Trade Center event, here are few things to do in New York City for 9/11.
RV Camping Close to New York City & The Ferry
If you stay at the Liberty Harbor RV Park, which is literally as close as you can get to NYC, you’re day will start with a quick drive over to Liberty State Park, where you can catch a quick ferry into New York.
Liberty Harbor RV Park is a little more than a parking lot, but it does offer urban camping right outside the big city. With just 50 water/electric sites and an on-site dump station, RVers pay a high price for convenience.
The New York Waterway ferry runs Monday – Friday and is a short 5-7 minute ride across the Hudson River to Pier 11 (right by Wall Street). You have the option to sit up at the top on a nice day or down below where you can get out of the cold or rain.
It’s an open air deck, where you can catch some wind in your hair as you take in the great views of the One World Observatory, beautiful boats on the water, historic buildings and just the awesomeness of being in the great state of New York!
Liberty Park RV is open year round, visit their website to book your stay: https://www.libertyharborrv.com/
One World Observatory
One World Observatory sits inside Tower One at the new World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan. It is the tallest building in the Western hemisphere and offers 360-degree views of the city!
Technically it’s the 6th tallest building in the world, which is why taking the lightning fast elevator ride up 102 floors in just 47 seconds is one of the highlights. It’s the only way to get to the top for guests wanting a 360-degree view of the city and your ride is made comfortable with a fast-moving slide show to keep your mind wandering and your stomach still…
Things to do in NYC at the One World Observatory
Ride to the Top:
The One World Observatory has Skypod Elevators that reach the 102ndfloor in less than 60 seconds. It is an all glass elevator that is meant to show you the evolution of New York City from undeveloped land to today’s skyscrapers.
A great way to spend your time in the elevator- the video was an amazing start to our visit!
Sky Portal:
This is a must visit that can be scary for some but exhilarating for most. It is a circular glass disk on the 100thfloor that allows you to see the streets on the ground in high definition.
Interactive Channels:
There are two interactive channels that allow you to virtually explore New York City. Included are –
- The Skyview Channel: This offers virtual helicopter rides to let you see over all of New York City
- The Restaurant Channel: Gives you virtual information to all of the top restaurants, even the ones most New Yorkers don’t know about.
Forever Theatre:
This theatre gives a surround sound audio visual into the One World Trade Center. You can hear the actual voices of those who helped build the center, as well as see a scenic view of New York’s skyline accompanied by the sounds of the ocean.
One World Observatory Packages
Choose your experience:
- General Admission – $35.00
- Upgraded Experience – $45.00 which includes:
– Priority Lane: Security, Elevator, and Exit
– Digital Skyline Guide
- Experience the Best – $55.00 – which includes:
– Priority Lane: Security, Elevator, and Exit
– Digital Skyline Guide
– Flexible Arrival on Selected Day
– $15 to Drink or Shop
Hours and Locations:
One World Trade Center
17 West Street
New York, NY 10007
Hours
Everyday – 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Phone
212-602-4000
Web
9/11 Memorial & Museum in NYC
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a two-part attraction that focuses on the events of September 11th.
It has interactive exhibits, memories, artifacts, beauty, and much more for those who want to pay tribute to this piece of our nation’s history.
The museum is the United State’s principal institution that explores the cause of 9/11, the actual 9/11 attacks and the aftermath, including present day impacts. The museum’s collection includes over 10,000 artifacts inside the museum, and about 40,000 print and digital photographs.
It’s overwhelming to see the nearly 3,000 names inscribed in bronze, of the innocent people, young and old who were killed in the attacks of September 11th, 2001 as well as February 26, 1993. The two memorial pools now sit on about 8 of the 16 acres of the former World Trade Center complex.
The memorial is actually a set of twin fountains that drop down into reflecting pools set inside the space that once held the Twin Towers. They are currently the largest manmade waterfalls in North America!
The North Pool includes the names of those that were lost inside the World Trade Center North, on Flight 11 and during the events on Feb. 26 1993. The South Pool includes the names of those lost in the World Trade Center South, the First Responders, on Flight 175, Flight 77 and Flight 93, as well as those who lost their lives at the Pentagon.
Walk around and take in the magnitude of emotions that standing in this space floods into your mind. Get to know the names of those who lost their lives and pay respects to a tragedy that continues to humbly bring our nation together.
The 9/11 Memorial is free to the public and open daily from 7:30am-9pm.
Things to do in NYC at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum
The Historical Exhibition:
This is one of the two core exhibits at the museum. This exhibit has three major parts focusing on three major days – the day before 9/11, the day of 9/11, and the day after 9/11. This exhibit is very important because it encompasses the entire unraveling of 9/11, not just the actual incident. This exhibit dives into the events that built up to 9/11, that actual story of Flight 93, and the aftermath of the tragedy the following day.
The Memorial Exhibition:
The Memoriam: This is the other of the two core exhibits. The Memoriam is very important because it rejoices those that we lost. It remembers all of the lives taken on September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993.
Skywalkers:
A Portrait of the Mohawk Ironworker at the World Trade Center: This exhibition tells the story of how the Mohawk ironworks built the Twin Towers, abetted rescue and recovery operations at Ground Zero, and drove to rebuild the World Trade Center following the 9/11 attacks.
Witness at Ground Zero:
This exhibit is a giant archive of the aftermath pictures from 9/11. The pictures are dated from a span of September 12, 2011 to September 16, 2001. The are more than 500 hundred pictures displayed.
Reflecting on 9/11:
This is a cool feature at this museum because it is interactive. This is a recording studio in the museum that lets visitors verbally respond to questions about how 9/11 affected their lives.
Rebirth at Ground Zero:
This a panoramic media that features time-lapse footage from the actual Ground Zero, as well as recorded interviews.
How much is the 9/11 Memorial & Museum?
| Adult | Youth (7-12) | Young Adult (13-17) | Senior (65+) | College Student | U.S. Veteran | |
| Museum Admission | $33 | $21 | $27 | $27 | $27 | $22 |
| Museum Admission + Museum Tour | $53 | $41 | $47 | $47 | $47 | $42 |
| The memorial is open to the public for free every day. | ||||||
The 9/11 Memorial also offers free admission for certain groups:
- 9/11 Rescue and Recovery Workers
- Active/Retired U.S. Military
- 9/11 Victim Family Members
Aside from free admission, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum pay special attention to the family members of those lost in the tragedy. There is a dedicated phone line for these families that you can call to plan your visit.
You can also contribute to the memorial with belongings or stories from your loved one that were lost. There is also a dedicated Family Room in the museum that you can visit on your trip.
After 5:30 PM on Mondays – Admission is free for everyone! These free admission tickets are distributed by “first come first serve” basis. Once they have ran out, normal admission fees apply.
Location & hours of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum
9/11 Memorial & Museum
180 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
Memorial: Open Daily 7:30AM to 9:00PM
Museum: Open six days a week (Wednesday to Monday), from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Phone
(212)-312-8800
Web
Ground Zero Museum Workshop
The Ground Zero Museum Workshop is a real life depiction of “inside Ground Zero.” It is a safe way to show the severity of Ground Zero for those who were there.
You get to see Ground Zero from the eyes of the official photographer. You get to see, touch, and listen to many interactive pieces throughout the museum. This museum is a kid friendly activity in New York, making it the number one option for parents to educate their kids.
Available exhibits/features:
Ground Zero Museum Workshop is a museum that focuses on the images and artifacts from the “Recovery at Ground Zero.” It is a kid-friendly museum that offers 2 hour tours daily. It is filled with images, trinkets, samples, etc. from the nine month period after 9/11.
Admission Information & Pricing
| Adults (12+) | Children (4-12) | Seniors (65+) | |
| Admission | $32 | $25 | $25 |
Hours and Location
9/11 Museum Workshop
420 West 14th Street, Floor 2
New York, New York USA
Hours
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday: 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 2:30pm
Thursday:12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm
Friday:12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 2:30pm
Saturday:12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm
Phone
(347)225-7779
Web
www.groundzeromuseumworkshop.org
September 11th, 2001 was a tragic day for everyone in the nation, especially for those who were there or lost family members in the tragedy. There are plenty of really great things to do in NYC for 9/11 that pays tribute to those brave souls and the efforts of rescue and recovery teams. The RV lifestyle is a great way to explore the country but it’s also a great way to learn about our nation’s history, no matter how painful.
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